Australia Clinches ICC Women’s Championship Title with 75-Run Victory Over New Zealand
Wellington, New Zealand – December 23, 2024 – Australia secured a dominant 75-run win over New Zealand at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Monday, completing an extraordinary three-peat in the ICC Women’s Championship. This victory allowed Australia to finish their 24-match campaign with 39 points, having achieved 17 wins, three no-results, and three defeats.
As reported by the ICC, Australia’s triumph against the Kiwis has solidified their position at the top, while India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, can only reach a maximum of 37 points with their two remaining matches against the West Indies and three against Ireland. This setback for New Zealand has significantly impacted their hopes of securing automatic qualification for the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, making the path ahead much more challenging.
In another twist, Australia’s win has opened the door for Sri Lanka, whose automatic qualification for next year’s ICC Women’s World Cup is now secure. The Kiwis can no longer overtake Sri Lanka, and their spot in the tournament is assured.
Australia’s Dominant Batting Performance
Australia won the toss and opted to bat first, setting the tone for the match with a solid start. Phoebe Litchfield, with 50 runs off 59 balls, including five boundaries, and Alyssa Healy, who scored 39 from 44 balls with four fours, provided the platform. In the middle-order, Annabel Sutherland (42 runs from 43 balls, 6 fours) and Ashleigh Gardner (74 runs from 62 balls, 9 fours, 1 six) delivered critical contributions to lift Australia’s total to 290 runs.
New Zealand’s bowlers struggled against Australia’s strong batting lineup. Amelia Kerr was the standout performer with the ball for the Kiwis, taking four wickets for 54 runs in her 10-over spell. Rosemary Mair also impressed with three wickets, while captain Sophie Devine took two wickets in the effort.
New Zealand’s Run Chase Falls Short
In response, New Zealand’s top order fought valiantly, but the required total proved too much. Suzie Bates top-scored for the Kiwis with 53 runs from 59 balls, including eight boundaries. Maddy Green contributed 39 runs from 35 balls, while Brooke Halliday (27 runs from 36 balls) and captain Sophie Devine (25 runs from 41 balls) kept the chase alive for a while. However, New Zealand’s efforts lacked the needed partnerships, and they were dismissed for 215 with six overs remaining.
Annabel Sutherland and Alana King were the standout bowlers for Australia, each picking up three wickets to bowl New Zealand out. Sutherland’s all-round performance earned her the ‘Player of the Match’ accolade.
Looking Ahead
Australia’s remarkable win adds another chapter to their ongoing dominance in women’s cricket. Their victory has not only secured the ICC Women’s Championship title but has also positioned them as strong contenders for the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup. Meanwhile, New Zealand’s hopes for automatic qualification now hang in the balance, and they will need to regroup and prepare for their remaining fixtures.
Australia’s focus will now shift to maintaining their momentum as they look forward to future challenges in women’s international cricket.
